Condenser



June 30, 1931. J. F. GRACE 1,812,591

l coNnENsER Filed Nqv. 26. 195o 3 sneets-sheec` 1 INVENTOR A TT ORNE Y Juneau, 1931. J`, F, GRACE 1,812,591

CONDENSR Filed Nov. 26, 19:50 5 sheets-shea 2 JOHNF GRACE.

IN VEN TOR A T ORNE Y June 30, 1931. 1. F. GRACE v 1,812,591

` coNDENsER Filed Nov. 26. 1930A 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JOHN Gin cui.

INVENTOR A TTORNE Y ofthe improved condenser.

Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES i PATENrorrl-cs MACIHNERY ColPQeeTION; OF' NEW YORK yN- 'regelaars-9.1

CONDENSEI Applieatiqnrled ovember 26, 1330. *,SerialNo. 498,233,

yThis invention relates to steam-ycondensers of the surface type and `an object ofthe invention is to provide .means for co-nducting the condensate towards the exhaust steam 1n.-

letotthe condenser and in the path of the in-.

coming ysteam for lreheating thecondensate prior :to its `delivery :to-the hot well of .the condenser structure.

More specifically, @the .present .invention comprises a plurality of condensate troughs arranged -in rows, the troughs in one row being staggered withrespect to thetroughs` in the row next thereto, so that dripping condensate shall tbe 1caught,-but. free circulation of steam vancl air may be permitted, lthat is, steam and air Amay iiow fromnahove to .beneath the setsof `troughs orchannels ,or vice versaitoetfect equalization of pressure Within the condenser. l

` Withthese yand other.objects in View, as may appear from the i accompanying .specification, :the invention consists of Vvariousffeatures of construction and combination of parts, which willrbe first'described in connection :with the accompanying drawings, showing-condensers of the'preferred for-In lembodying the invention, and the featuresformf inglthe invention will be speciicallyipointed out in the claims.` Inithe,drawings Fig. El is aside elevation artly"insection 4FigsQ, is-an end View ofithecondenser. 1=Fig. 3 'is averticah cross section through the condenser taken o-nthe line 3.-13 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail section-.takenon theline 474. of FigjS and Fig. `fis -a detail section of afp-art of the condensery showing the troughs or. channels and the' condensatecollecting headerforeach series of channels or troughs. l Referring more specifically tothe drawings, the improved condenser,structurecomprises'a. shell-1 having'thewater'boxes 2 and 3 .at` the opposite ends-thereof: between which the cooling water is circulatedthroiigh the tubes 4 as is ordinary in surface type steam condenser, structures.' f

ln the present invention, the shelll 1" hasan exhaust inleti 5,- which opens out-at one. side of theshell'liasclearly shown in FigsQandB of the-drawings, so that the stearntobe Conf densed enters .the condenser in .a .horizontal path. Y i

As .shown in lanes .6 `on their outer sidesiand air outlet lanes 7 on .their innerfsides; VlVhile.apar-A ticular arrangement fof .theitubes ;isil1ustratedin Fig. 3 of the drawings,lit iis .torbeunderstood that such .arrangement .may be varied and that the constructions embodying the presentinvention may be used nlconnection .withyarious ormationsand arrangements of the ytubes .without departing Y.from thespirit of the l.present;invention. 'Y

In' order ,to properly conduct and deliver the Vcondensate to `the diet .Well .81 .Without necessitating its .traveling .or dripping .over the :various tubes beneath lits point of condensingwith Vthe resultingcooling ofy the condensate Vand reduction ofthecondensating eiiciency ofthe condenser, the present invention comprises means'forcollecting thecon densate at various places within thegcon-` Fig. 3 of the drawings,4 the tubes L are arranged in nests ,with steam inlet denser anddeliverngH-it .-to the hot well Y throughthesteam .entranceto the condenser. A series of channelslortroughsLOare arrangedfin the airoutletflanes'? `and in thev centralsteam inlet@ lanes fas `clearly showlizin Fig. 3 of thedrawings.v f These troughs or channels are arranged in. rows beneath thervarious nests orl sections oftubeswo. rowsllef4 ing arranged in each space with the troughs or channels in oneoff the` rows staggered` with respecttothose in the other rows .so thatallof the condensate drippingfrom thetubesabove the respective rofws .of channelsy or troughs, will be caught, but steam and air may.;fiow from above to beneath the setslottroughsor channels-or vice versato eiectequalization of pressure withinI the condenser.

As clearlyshown in Figs. zandflofthe drawings, the troughs Y or ,channels A l0l in each set extend into. the, condenser from:v the steam inlet to the innermostdimit ofgthe Vnestpf tubes directlythereabove. and they incline downwardlyfrom 1 their innermost endsI to wards the inlet for the exhaust steam `so that' the l condensate `collected in Athe various troughs or channels will flow downwardly therethrough into the headers 11, one of which is provided for each set of channels or troughs.

As shown in F ig. 1 of the drawings, the headers 11 extend entirely through the length of the condensing space of the condenser, that is, from one of the tube heads 12 to the other and if it is so desired, they may incline slight` ly from the tube heads to the transverse centre of the condenser, at which point suitable conduits 14 are connected to the headers. The conduits 14 extend downwardly through the steam inlet space of the condenser for de livering the condensate to the hot well 8. By

posit" ming the headers 11 and the conduits 14 at the steam entrance of the condensing' space of the condensate, the condensate con* tained in these members will be reheated by the incoming exhaust steam and will be delivered to the hot well at a high temperature. If it is so desired, the forward sides of the headers 11 may be perforated above the normal level therein as shown at 15 to permit entrance of steam into the headers for further reheating the condensate.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, a separate nest of tubes is illustrated at 20, which is spaced from the normal nests of tubes 4 to provide an air channel 21 and suitable balfle plates 22 and 23 are provided along portions of the passage 21 and along the inner side of the tubes so as to prevent the steam from passing directly to the nest 20. The passage 21 is so arranged that air and steam traveling therethrough must enter the nest 20 from the lowermost portion thereof and the air or other non-condensable gases rise from the air cooling nest 20 and are drawn oi" through the air outlet 24. The balile 22 also forms a terminus for the inward passage of the steam through the central steam inlet space 6 and causes any steam which might pass all the way through this space 6, to be deflected laterally into the adjacent tube nest and pre- Vents its passage directly into the air passage 21, thereby eliminating the liability of excessive low of steam into the air cooling nest of tubes.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the speciic construction or arrangement of parts shown but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

IVhat is claimed is l 1. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet, a plurality of water circulating tubes in said shell and a plurality of condensate collecting and conducting channels in the shell for leading condensate towards said steam inlet.

2. In a steam condenser, a shellhaving anV exhaust steam inlet, a plurality of water circulating tubes in said shell, a plurality of condensate collecting and conducting channels in the shell for leading condensate towards said steam inlet, headers for receiving the condensate from said channels, and drain conduits for receiving condensate from said headers. Y

3. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet, a plurality of headers extending longitudinally through the shell at the steam inlet portion of the condensing space of the condenser, and means extending within the condensing space of the condenser for collecting and conducting condensate to said headers.

4. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet, a plurality of headers extending longitudinally through the shell at the steam inlet portion of the condensing space of the condenser, means extending within the condensing space of the condenser for collecting and conducting condensate to said f headers, a hot well, and drain conduits for leading condensate from said headers to said hot well.

5. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet, a hot well, tubes in said shell arranged in nests, a plurality of channel members for receiving condensate from each nest of tubes, and drain pipes for receiving the condensate from said channel members and conducting it to said hot well.

6. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet, a hot well, tubes in said shell arranged in nests, a plurality of channel members for receiving condensate from each nest of tubes, said channel members arranged in rows in overlapping relation to catch the condensate and to permit free circulation of air thereabout.

7. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet, a hot well, tubes in said shell arranged in nest-s, a plurality of channel members for receiving condensate from each nest of tubes, said channel members arranged in rows in overlapping relation to catch the condensate and to permitfree circulation ot air thereabout, condensate collecting headers positioned at steam entrance to the condensing space of the condenser for receiving the condensate from said channel members, and means for delivering the condensate from said headers to said hot well.

8. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet, tubes in the shell arranged in nests having steam inlet and exit lanes therein, andchannel members disposed in certain of said lanes for catching dripping condensate.

9. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet, tubes in the shell arranged in nests having steam inlet and exit lanes therein, and channel members disposed in certain of said lanes for catching dripping condensate, headers at the steam inlet of the condensing space of the condenser for re ceiving condensate from said channel members, and means for conducting the condensate from the headers to said hot well. Y

10. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet, tubes arranged in nests providing steam inlet and air exit lanes, channel members in certain of said lanes for catching drip-ping condensate, an air cooling nest of tubes at the innermost part of said sh-ell from said exhaust steam inlet, and baiiies in said shell forming an air passage for directing air and steam into the lowermost portion of said air cooling tube-nest.

11. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet, tubes arranged in nests providing steam inlet and air* exit lanes, chansteam inlet, drain conduits extending through the steam inlet space of the condenser for delivering condensate from said condensate colnel members in certain of said lanes forv catching dripping condensate, an air cooling nest of tubes at the innermost part of said shell from said exhaust steam inlet, and bailes in said shell forming an air passage for direct,-V ing air and steam into the lowermost portion of said air cooling tube-nest, certain of said baffles arranged to prevent direct passage of steam from the steam inlet lanes into said y air cooling tubenest.

12'. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet lopening horizontally thereinto, water circulating tubes arranged in nests in the shell and providing steam inlet lanes opening towards said horizontal exfhaust inlet and air exit lanes, condensate collecting channel members positioned in certain of said lanes and inclining downwardly towards the horizontal steam inlet, means adjacent said horizontal steam inlet for collecting the condensate Jfromy said channel members. Y

13. In a steam condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet opening horizontally thereinto, water circulating tubes arranged in nests in the shell and providing steam inlet lanes opening towards said horizontal exhaust inlet and air exit lanes, condensate collecting channel members positioned in certain ofV said lanes and inclining downwardlyV towards the horizontal steam inlet, means adjacent said horizontal steam inlet for collecting the condensate from said` channel members, a hot well beneath said horizontal steam inlet, and drain conduits extending through. the steam inlet space of the condenser for delivering condensate from said condensate collecting means to said hot well.

14. In a steam condenser, a shell having s' an exhaust steam inlet opening horizontally thereinto, water circulating tubes arranged in nests in the shell and providing steam inlet lanes opening towards said horizontal exhaust inlet and air exit lanes, condensate collecting channel members positioned in certain of said lanes and inclining downwardly towards the horizontal steam inlet, means adjacent said horizont-al steam inlet for co1- lecting the condensate from said channel members, a hot well beneath said horizontal 

